08/30/2013

Port Sets Single-Month Record: 200,000-Plus TEUs

Norfolk – The Port of Virginia handled more than 200,000 TEUs in July and by doing so set a new record for single-month cargo volume, shattering the former mark set nearly six years ago.

"This is the first time in our history that we have eclipsed 200,000 TEUs in a single month," said Rodney W. Oliver, interim executive director of the Virginia Port Authority. "The record-high container volume also marks the best fiscal-year start in the port's history."

The former single-month record was 199,448 TEUs set in October 2007.

Last month, the port moved 205,137 TEUs, a 13.7 percent increase in volume when compared with the same month last year. The calendar year volume is 1.25 million TEUs, up 7.2 percent over the same period last year.

Import TEUs tallied 98,774 and exports were 106,363 in July, increases of 14.9 percent and 12.7 percent, respectively. For the calendar year, imports are up 8.9 percent and exports are 5.7 percent.

"Additionally, our rail volume continues to be strong: In July we handled 37,985 rail containers and that figure represents the second-best month for rail in the history of the port, after the all-time record set earlier in May."

Virginia's breakbulk business was also on the rise in July. The port handled 37,584 short tons of breakbulk cargo last month making it the best month for breakbulk business since last November.